Improvement in slate-frames



UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIOE.

JOHN W. HYATT, OE NEWARK', NEW JERsEY, AND cHARLEs M. HYATT, OE

- ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN sLATE-FRAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,681, dated February 9, 1875; application filed December 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. HYATT, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, and CHARLES M. HYATT, of the city and county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Frames for Slates and other articles, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l represents a plan of a frame when inished.` Fig. 2 is a transverse section in the plane w a', Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the corners ready to be fastened together.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements upon slate-frames,in which the ends of the stiles are confined in place by metallic strips.

Our invention consists in the combination, with the abutting ends .of the stiles of a slateframe, each provided with an angular or L- shaped mortise extending into the stiles from its face side, of a locking-key inserted edgewise into said mortise, as will be hereinafter described, whereby the liability of the locking or fastening device becomingloose or detached is avoided.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a slate-frame, which is composed of four stiles, a e. The ends of these stiles are cut off at angles of forty-five degrees, so that when two stiles are placed end to end they form a right angle.

Each stile is provided at each of its ends with an L-shaped recess, b, so that When two stiles are placed end to end a lJ-shaped recess is v formed (see Fig. 3) for the reception of a metallic key, c,Which is rolled OrOtherWise produced `of sheet metal, and which is so formed that the same, when driven down into the LAI-shaped recess, serves to draw the adjoining ends of the stiles close together, and thereby a frame is produced of great strength and durability. In the mitered ends of each stile are semi-oval cavities f, so that when two stiles are placed end to end an oval socket f f is formed, Fig. 3, intended for the reception of a cord, d. This cord is round, and its diameter is somewhat larger than the small axis of the oval socket f j', so that, when the cord is placed in said socket, and the ends of the stiles are drawn together by the key c, said cord Will be firmly clamped and retained in its socket.

The ends of the cord are allowed to project a short distance beyond the surface of the stiles, so that said projecting ends will form heads e, Fig. 2. These heads act as pads for supporting the finished frame, When the same is placed on a table, and they materially increase the durability of said frame, and at the same time the pads are not liable to Work out and to become detached from the frame.

We do not confine ourselves to using cord or similar librous material in the sockets f f, as We can use india-rubber or other elastic or compressible material which, When clamped in the socket, will be held by the compression to which it is subjected, the outer ends Wh-ich are not compressed remaining of the natural size, so as both to lock the filling material in place and form pads on the surfaces of the frame.

The lliu g furthermore serves to stiffen the joints of the frame and make them irm, because its .tension acts in opposition to the keys, and consequently the lling and the keys, by acting conversely to each other, serve to make the joints firm, and the lling, by its tension, takes up or counteracts anyutendency to looseness or play in the joint.

The recesses for the keys do not extend through the stile or frame, and consequently the keys are exposed to view only on one side of the frame.

We are aware that the stiles of slate-frames have been connected together by means of a strip of wire passing around the edges of the corners of the frame, andhaving their ends inserted into recesses in the edge of the stiles, but in such the fastening is very liable to become detached or loose, as it is exposed, and such We disclaim.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure In testimony that We claim the foregoing We by Letters Patent, ishave hereunto set our hands.

1. The combination, with the abutting ends of the stiles a a 0f a slate-frame, each provided with an angular or L-shaped mortise, b, extending into the frame from its face side, of a Witnesses for JOHN W. HYATT:

locking-key, o, inserted edgewise into said W. HAUFF, mortise, in the manner shown and described. E. F. KASTENHUBER.

2. The combination, in a mitered frame, 0f Witnesses for CHARLES M. HYATT keys c, and elastic cushion or filling d, substan- ROBERT G. PRUYN,

tially as described. J. TOWNSEND LANSING. 

